Hey Bornfree--- As I am sure you are aware the 7D is cropped sensor giving you the extra reach with your long lenses but the full-frame 5D II is really a spectacular body. 2 pro shooter friends of mine have the 5D II and rave about it constantly but another semi-pro friend has the 7D and he produces some amazing stuff too and is very very happy with his 7D. Neither of the 5D II guys are wildlife orientated though and you might miss that extra length BUT if it was me I would bite the bullet and go with the 5D II . Full HD video as well even on long lens on fullframe would be worth the distance sacrifice for me. Just my 2 cents --------

Buildwise, weight, price etc are as good as the same, so yes, I can see you are wondering... But! The choice is simple for you.

The 5D is a fullframe camera, the 7D is not. With the parks, farm etc you want zoom, so you want the cropfactor. (Your 400 mm is effectively a 640 mm lens.)The speed is of course a factor too, 3.9 fps versus 8 fps for the 7D. Imagine that cheetah chasing a springbok, and not even getting 4 frames per second!

Another two handy things the 7D has, and the 5D not are an electronic level and a flash.The level will make keeping your horizon level a breeze (I would love it!) and having a flash is always handy. With a 5D you're going to have to have an external flash on the body at all times.

I agree with J.J. I would decide what you predominantly shoot and if it's wildlife then for sure go for the 7D for all the features that have been highlighted in the posts above such as crop factor, fps etc If you mainly shoot landscapes then the 5D II's image quality is superb and would be hard to beat.It's tough if you shoot both, but good luck and I'm sure you'll make the right decision if you take your time and mull it over and focus on what it will be used for.

Hello UKbadger I have 2x 40D bodies so I dont need to swop lenses and they have served me very well, no complaints at all.I agree that the learning curve is going to be steep and having a technically challanged brain doesnt help either But I have heard so much about the 7D and mostly good that I am really keen. At first I thought about the 60D which hasnt arrived here yet but to upgrade to a 7D makes more sense.

Thanks for the interest shown

Bornfree.

_________________"If I had only one day left in Africa, I would choose to spend it with a pride of lions." - Gerald Hinde

The 5Dmk2 is awesome for landscapes and portraiture, but whenever your subject starts moving around at a faster pace than an old man's gait, your 7D will kick the 5Dmk2's butt in the Autofocus department.

I mostly use a 7D (would love to have a 5Dmk2 as well though) and I have been very happy with it.

Time passed, and I now have a 7D too. And it mindbogglingly good!Absolutely perfect for all people visiting these forums as they will be photographing wildlife mostly.The AF is superfast, spot on, and tracks like a .... Try birds in flight...

Morkel777 wrote:

I mostly use a 7D (would love to have a 5Dmk2 as well though) and I have been very happy with it.

The 5D is perfect for landscapes and people, being fullframe and will someday grace our photobag.

Award: Small Parks Promoter of the Year & Sighting of the Year - Small Creatures and Insects (2013)Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:02 pmPosts: 3300Location: Bellville, Cape TownFAC Member (2014)

I got an opportunity to get a 7D now at a very good price, and the aguments per this thread convinced me to not think twice.

Started off with 400D a few years ago and since learned the ins and outs. Got 60D just over a year ago and wow what an upgrade with 100 -400 Canaon lens. Still have the Sigma 100-500 as well. Perhaps time for an upgrade on the 400D -> 7D with 8fps and 640mm reach on 400mm Canon lens, especially for birding and action.

Thank you for arguments, even it was some time ago - the beauty of this forum - advice is timeless.

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